Report of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on the Proposal-Related Work since the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee

Fellow Members, On behalf of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC NC, I would like to present to you the following report on the proposal-related work since the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC NC for your deliberation and approval. Since the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC NC, CPPCC members and CPPCC NC participating organizations and special committees have shown a high sense of political responsibility. Focusing on promoting development, which is the primary task for the CPPCC in displaying its functions, they were keen on hotspots and serving the greater interests and raised many valuable opinions and suggestions in their proposals, thus making positive contributions to the building of an overall better-off society!During the past year, the CPPCC NC has received 4478 proposals, and the proposal committee filed 4263 of them after examination. Of this total, 4114 were from CPPCC members, 115 from the central committees of eight democratic parties and ACFIC and 34 from the sectoral groups. Upon the close of the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC NC, the CPPCC NC called a meeting to handover the proposals for implementation, delivering them to more than 150 undertaking agencies for implementation. These included departments attached to the CPC CC, NPC Standing Committee, State Council, CPPCC NC and Central Military Commission, the General Offices of the Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Party committees and people's governments and related people's organizations of the various provinces, autonomous regions and central-directed municipalities. Proposals submitted after the session were also timely transmitted to related departments for handling. Those left non-filed were also transmitted to related departments as the letters from CPPCC members for research and handling. By February 20, 2005, 99.15% of the proposals had been dealt with and replied. Of this total, 85.49% were on problems already settled or listed for solution. As for questions that could not be settled for the time being due to limitations of conditions, the undertaking agencies also gave timely explanations to the proposal makers. IProposals submitted since the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC NC showed two distinctive features. One was the relatively concentrated reflection of hot issues. For example, concerning the problems of agriculture, countryside and farmer's income, CPPCC members presented over 300 proposals on strengthening agriculture as the foundation, ensuring grain security and farmer's income, safeguarding farmer-turned workers' legal rights and interests and setting up multi-level rural social security system. With regard to employment and reemployment, CPPCC members presented over 200 proposals. The other feature was a general improvement of proposal quality. The recommendations raised in the proposals played an important role in spurring scientific and democratic decision-making, promoting coordinate socialist material, political and ethical and cultural development and building a socialist harmonious society. The CPC CC with Comrade Hu Jintao as general secretary attaches great importance to the CPPCC work as well as CPPCC proposals. Leading comrades like Wen Jiabao and Jia Qinglin made instructions on some important proposals and related investigations and study reports, thus vigorously boosting the implementation of proposals. All undertaking agencies conscientiously implemented the Circular of the Opinions of the General Office of the CPPCC NC on the Handling of CPPCC Proposals jointly transmitted by the CPC CC General Office and State Council General Office (abbreviated as Circular of the Two General Offices), further deepened their awareness, strengthened leadership, defined responsibility and improved the system. Grasping implementation, they closely combined the handling of CPPCC proposals with pushing their departmental key work and solving outstanding problems, kept improving work and enhanced the quality of implementation. For example, they intensified the implementation of proposals from the democratic parties and groups and people's organizations, and laid stress on their implementation. They actively organized symposiums, investigations and study and tackled crucial problems that found concentrated reflection in the proposals. Through visits at the doorstep, telephone calls and facsimile contact, they strengthened communication with CPPCC members and utilized network technology to handle proposals, thus further enhancing the efficiency of work. Problems in economic construction occupied a large proportion of the proposals. There were 1905 such proposals accounting for 44.69%. Surrounding the pivotal task of economic construction, CPPCC members made many recommendations, which received great attention from the departments concerned of the Party and government. For example, with regard to proposals on pushing coordinate urban and rural economic and social development, during the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC NC, the NDRC, the ministries of land and resources, construction and agriculture and other undertaking agencies, communicated face to face with proposal makers in search of a common solution on the basis of the CPPCC NC-convened consultative symposiums. With regard to proposals to rejuvenate Northeast China old industrial bases, the State Council State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and State Council Office for Rejuvenating Old Industrial Bases and other undertaking agencies took further measures after holding consultative symposiums with proposal makers. With regard to proposals on setting up green national economy accounting system, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and State Environmental Protection Administration jointly set up a leading group, expert consulting group and technical work group for the comprehensive research of environment and economic accounting (green GDP), thus launching the research project of China green national economy accounting system in an overall manner. With regard to proposals on conducting social survey of total grain output, the NBS issued the circular on strengthening surveys on grain production. With regard to proposals on strengthening coalmine production safety, the State Administration of Work Safety issued policy documents jointly with other ministries and commissions concerned such as Method of Management for Retention and Use of Work Safety Expenses in Coal Production. With regard to proposals on the protection and scientific and rational use of water resources, Beijing municipal government realized unified management of water resources by setting up a water bureau and worked out a plan of building a water-efficient city with a string of concrete measures. It will soon introduce The White Book on Water Efficiency and The White Book on Pollution Treatment. With regard to proposals on curbing overloading transportation, the Ministry of Communications worked out a scheme on the basis of repeated investigations and study. After getting approval from the State Council, eight ministries and commissions took united actions nationwide to bring renovations with initial results. With regard to proposals on utilizing the Hong Kong airport hub status to promote economic development in the central and western parts of the country, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China signed a new aviation memorandum with the government of the HK Special Administrative Region under which a new airline was opened to the central and western parts of the country. With regard to proposals on preventing and controlling alien species from invasions and on safeguarding state ecological security, the State Environmental Protection Administration joined hands with the CPPCC NC subcommittee for handling proposals to make a joint investigations and study project in a bid to settle the issue energetically. Developing S&T, education, culture, health and sports is of great importance in promoting overall economic and social progress and man's overall development. There were 1178 proposals in this connection, making up 27.63%. CPPCC members presented many constructive opinions with regard to implementing the strategy of national rejuvenation through science and education, deepening the institutional reforms in S&T, education, culture and health. The undertaking agencies adopted them in a positive manner. For example, in connection with proposals on displaying the role of large scientific research facilities, the Ministry of Science and Technology joined hands with the CPPCC NC subcommittee for handling proposals to make a joint investigation and study project and together with other ministries and commissions, worked out An Outline of 2004-2010 State S&T Infrastructure Platform Construction. In connection with proposals on boosting employment-oriented vocational education, pushing reforms in higher institutes of education and pushing employment for university graduates, the ministries of education, finance and personnel and other undertaking agencies held consultative symposiums with proposal makers and reached consensus on measures to be taken. In connection with proposals on strengthening ideological and political education in institutes of higher education, and ethical education among minors, the Ministry of Education seriously absorbed the recommendations of CPPCC members after joint investigations and study and repeated studies, formed related documents and made work plans. In connection with proposals on renovating the broadcasting, film and TV institutions and mechanisms and on developing cultural industry, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television made investigations and study in tandem with the CPPCC NC proposal committee and further opened up the related work. In connection with proposals on intensifying the management of advertisements in medical care, medicines and healthy food, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce issued time and again notifications, intensified inspections and examinations and punished a batch of fraudulent advertisements according to law. In connection with proposals on strengthening interactions between the Beijing Olympic Games and the Shanghai World Expo, the BOCOG made active connections with the Shanghai World Expo work organs and strengthened bilateral exchange both at high and work levels. Problems in politics and law, united front, personnel, welfare, ethnic and religious fields such as building a honest Party style and clean government, democratic and legislation, improving social security system, safeguarding state security and social stability and promoting the peaceful unification of the motherland, were all social hot issues of special concern to the CPPCC members. There were 1180 proposals in this connection accounting for 27.68%. Some opinions and recommendations provided important reference for policy making or for work improvement. For example, with regard to proposals on setting up a system of declaration for file for direct relatives of Party and government leading cadres and state-owned enterprise directors and managers studying or settling abroad, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection conducted pilot work after conscientious study. With regard to proposals to strengthen exchange between the youngsters across the Taiwan Straits, five departments including the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office worked out feasibility schemes after exchanging views with proposal makers through consultative symposiums. The schemes involved a cross-Strait youngster exchange joint meeting system as well as the tuition fees and employment of Taiwan students in the mainland. With regard to proposals on tightening control of house dismantling and improving housing security system, the Supreme People's Court drafted a Regulation on Certain Issues in Administrative Cases of Handling Urban House Dismantling. With regard to proposals on settling needy people's major disease medical treatment, the Ministry of Civil Affairs drafted a Pilot Scheme for Setting up Urban Medical Rescue and Relief System (for soliciting opinion). With regard to proposals on strengthening farmer-turned workers' interests and rights protection and guarantee, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security issued a circular together with other departments concerned to carry out nationwide inspection of such protection. With regard to proposals on organizing commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the proclamation of the Law of the PRC on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, the State Ethnic Affairs Commission conscientiously implemented the guidelines in the instructions of the central leading comrades and called a forum in Beijing together with the NPC Ethnic Affairs Committee, the publicity and united front work departments of the CPC CC, the CPPCC NC ethnic and religious affairs committee and the Ministry of Justice. Targeting proposals made by CPPCC members over the years about introducing a regulation on religious affairs, the State Council examined and adopted the regulation on religious affairs drafted by the State Council's legislative affairs office and State Administration of Religious Affairs after soliciting opinions from many areas. Besides, targeting problems reflected in the proposals in a concentrated manner, such as speeding up state-owned commercial banks stock system reform, making sound the capital market system, setting up and improving the social credit system, intensifying ecological and environmental protection, strengthening food and drug supervision and management, intensifying participation in international co-operation and competitive edge and working out laws and regulations against national secession, the relevant undertaking agencies did a lot of work and promoted the solution of certain important economic and social problems. To provide more information to the CPPCC members about the handling of proposals, this report selected a general survey of handling by six undertaking agencies and attached it as appendixes for your reference.IISince the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC NC, the Standing Committee of the CPPCC NC has continued to adhere to the proposal-related work principle of "Focusing on the Central Task, Serving the Overall Interest, Improving the Quality and Striving for Practical Results". In order to further enhance the integrated level of the proposals work, it has highlighted the following aspects of work:1. Organize revision of the Regulation on the CPPCC NC Proposals Work The CPPCC NC Standing Committee ordered the subcommittee for handling proposals to organize revision of the Regulation on the CPPCC NC Proposals Work in order to set up and make sound all rules and regulations to back up the CPPCC Constitution. To do a good job of revising the regulation, the subcommittee for handling proposals set up a special leading group and set about the job upon the conclusion of the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC NC and made a draft revision of the proposals work. The CPPCC NC Standing Committee extensively solicited opinions from various forums on proposal-related work, first at local committees of the CPPCC, then at the central committees of the democratic parties and ACFIC, and with some CPPCC members and the proposals undertaking agencies. After concentrated deliberations and revisions at the fifth proposals work forum of the CPPCC NC, it again solicited opinion from the general offices of the CPC CC, State Council and Central Military Commission. Later, further revisions were made in accordance with the work forum of the secretary-generals of the CPPCC NC institutional system. The newly revised regulation on proposals work was deliberated and adopted by the Eighth Meeting of Standing Committee of the Tenth CPPCC NC and played an important role in promoting the institutional, standardizing and procedural development of proposals work. 2. Call the fifth proposals work forum of the CPPCC NC August 2004 saw the fifth proposals work forum of the CPPCC NC. Chairman Jia Qinglin and Vice-Chairman Wang Zhongyu made important speeches at the forum. The forum was attended by the leading members of various provincial, autonomous regional, centrally-directed municipal and deputy provincial level city CPPCC committees for handling proposals, the central committees of the democratic parties and ACFIC and CPPCC special committees as well as some CPPCC NC proposals undertaking agencies. The forum reviewed the development process of CPPCC proposals work over the past 55 years, exchanged the basic experience of parties and groups in writing proposals, of undertaking agencies in implementing them and of local CPPCC committees in handling proposals. The forum confirmed the proposal-related work principle of "Focusing on the Central Task, Serving the Overall Interest, Improving the Quality and Striving for Practical Results". It raised the work requirements of strengthening co-operation and forming combined force and played an important role in pushing proposals work development. 3. Give better service to proposals quality enhancement Proposal quality is the lifeline and basis of proposal-related work. To assist CPPCC members in writing quality proposals, when collecting proposals from them, the subcommittee for handling proposals categorized the work focuses and difficulties provided by the undertaking agencies and the important problems on which they were expected to give advices, and combed out referential topics for reference of the CPPCC members in their selection of proposal topics. To timely inform the CPPCC members of the general situation about the proposals, the NC Standing Committee dispatched such data as General Catalogue of Proposal Categorization, the disc of retrievable full texts of the proposals and Grasping the Will of the People -- Selections of the Tenth CPPCC NC Proposals and Replies (Volume 2004). To facilitate CPPCC members enquiring proposals and related information, the proposals network management system was further upgraded and renovated. 4. Fully tap the role of proposals in displaying the overall functions of the CPPCC CPPCC proposals contain a wealth of information resources. The Standing Committee highlights the excavation of proposals to display the overall functional role of the CPPCC. After the conclusion of the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC NC, the proposals were categorized and presented to the relevant CPPCC NC special committees for reference in organized investigations and study. The contents of proposals were timely summarized and distributed to the various CPPCC NC special committees and related departments, and to the CPPCC Gazette for publicity. The important part of proposals reflecting the social mood and people's feelings was presented to the central leadership via CPPCC Information, and CPPCC Information Gazette and other channels. Focusing on the central topic of the Sixth Meeting of Standing Committee of the Tenth CPPCC NC, namely, establishing and implementing the idea of scientific development, an overview was made and printed about the contents of proposals for reference to the session. Focusing on the formulation of the 11th Five-year Plan for National and Economic Development, the relevant problems in the handling of proposals were arranged into comprehensive data and provided to departments concerned for reference. 5. Do a better job of handling proposals from the democratic parties and people's organizations The Standing Committee attaches great importance to the proposals made by the central committees of the various democratic parties and ACFIC. All proposals from the parties and groups and people's organizations were timely delivered to the chairman and vice-chairmen of the CPPCC NC for review and instructions. Before presenting their proposals, parties and groups and people's organizations organized forums attended by both proposal makers and related undertaking agencies to have face-to-face communication and consultation and make the proposals more trouble-shooting and operable. To push the implementation of their proposals, the Standing Committee suggested that the undertaking agencies would define special people to track down for implementation and organized proposal makers to participate in tracking surveys of the implementation results. Timely communication was made with the undertaking agencies on proposals with dissatisfactory feedback from the parties and groups and people's organizations to consult for further methods of implementation. Through holding work forums on proposals from the democratic parties and groups and people's organizations, experience was exchanged and disseminated and opinions were extensively heard. 6. Strive to enhance the level of implementation through many ways and means when more and more proposals are being implemented year on year and the task of implementation is getting tougher and tougher.Firstly, we strengthened contacts with the undertaking agencies, defined the requirements, exchanged the experience, and urged implementation via meetings to hand over the proposals, forums with the undertaking agencies and paying visits at the doorstep. During the past year, we visited such undertaking agencies as the Beijing municipal people's government, the Ministry of Public Security, Guangdong provincial people's government, the State General Administration of Sport, and the State Forestry Administration. Secondly, we adopted the form of consultative forums, joint investigations and study combining subcommittee for handling proposals, proposal makers and undertaking agencies when it comes to key proposals defined after study so as to push their implementation. During the past year we called eight such forums and carried out five such investigations and study projects. Thirdly, we tracked down implementation of proposals containing hard nuts that could not be cracked in the same year. For example, after the First Session of the CPPCC NC, with regard to proposals on protecting the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and making use of facility construction, we organized proposal makers and undertaking agencies for field investigations and study and held a tracking consultative forum during the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC NC. With regard to proposals on working out the PRC law on mediation, we organized investigations abroad on the basis of joint domestic investigations and study. The recommendations we made in the investigations and study report drew attention from the central leading comrades. Fourthly, we continued to present the important remarks and recommendations in the proposals to the related central leadership via Extracts of Important Proposals. During the past year we printed 13 issues of Extracts of Important Proposals and many State Council leading comrades made instructions on them. 7. Intensify publicity of proposal-related workDuring the Second Session of the Tenth CPPCC NC, we made concentrated reports in active coordination with the mass media. In routine work we timely invited the mass media to make special coverage of consultative implementation and field investigations and study on key proposals. We provided the mass media with clues of coverage through briefings of proposal-related work. Meanwhile we actively explored new channels of publicity, made full use of net media and opportunities for investigations abroad and intensified publicity of proposal-related work. For example, in order to push implementation of proposals on reforming the urban transport management system, we actively communicated with personages of all spheres and expanded the impact of the CPPCC and its proposal-related work when organizing investigations abroad. 8. Strengthen contacts with and guidance to local CPPCC committees in their proposal-related workTo play a better role in guidance, we adopted many forms to strengthen contacts with the local committees of the CPPCC. The subcommittee for handling proposals took part in forums on proposal-related work in East China, North China, Northeast China, Central South China, West China and deputy provincial level cities, theoretical symposiums on proposal quality, outstanding proposals and advanced undertaking agency commendation meetings held by some local committees of the CPPCC. Through the Correspondence on Proposals Work we presented and exchanged dynamic information and theoretical research findings on proposal-related work among CPPCC committees at all levels, we utilized the opportunities of key proposal investigation and study and visiting local governments to exchange opinions and information with local CPPCC committees and studied the new situations and new problems confronting proposal handling work. IIIThe past year saw solid, orderly and remarkable effects in CPPCC proposal-related work with the combined effort of all CPPCC members, all CPPCC participating agencies and undertaking agencies. But there was still a considerable gap from the expectations of the CPPCC members, and the requirements from all social circles. In the New Year we must conscientiously implement the idea of scientific development. Focusing on the important issues of national economic and social development and building a socialist harmonious society, and following the CPPCC NC's general work plan, we must give prominence to bettering the following aspects of work: Persist in seeking development by means of quality. Stress on making considerations of strategic, overall and perspective questions, select themes of interest to the Party and government, topics of common concern to the masses, and put forward quality proposals after conscientious selection, in-depth investigations and study and ample argumentation. Further extend the channels of proposal sources, fully display the advantage of sectors and groups and turn important speeches and investigation and study reports into quality proposals. Tighten the examination of filing procedure according to the revised proposals work regulation. Further study the standard of refined filing to ensure proposal quality. Intensify proposal tracking. Carefully select a number of proposals that are of vital interest and far-reaching influence to the overall situation, hit the target and contain feasible recommendations as key proposals for active handling and implementation. Further assist undertaking agencies to strengthen communication with proposal makers and enhance implementation results. With regard to proposals listed by undertaking agencies for gradual settlement, adopt multiple measures to track supervision and get the recommendations contained in the proposals implemented. Stress on the display of overall functions. Strengthen coordination and organically integrate the proposal-related work with CPPCC members' inspections, special committees investigations and study, and information work. Further strengthen contacts and co-operation with the central committees of the democratic parties and ACFIC, related people's organizations and proposal undertaking agencies, fully mobilize the positive factors in all aspects, increase the combined effort and form a proposal work mechanism that achieves joint implementation, pushes ahead integrally and coordinate efficiency. Strengthen the building of proposal work organ itself. Study harder, and further enhance the theoretical and policy level and professional work proficiency of the proposal-handling contingent. Improve the proposal network management system, and keep upgrading office automation levels, gradual develop the information resources, network transmission and scientific management in proposal handling. Boost theoretical research in proposal-related work, make sound all work rules and regulations and further promote the institutional, standardizing and procedural development of proposal-related work. Fellow Members, The historical mission of building an overall better-off society and speeding up the socialist modernization drive has provided a broad arena for the CPPCC NC's proposal-related work, and is setting new and higher demands for it. In the new situation, we are shouldering heavy responsibilities and glorious mission in handling proposals. Let us firmly establish the idea of scientific development under the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, work with one mind and concerted effort, open up and be aggressive, so that the CPPCC proposal-related work will play a greater role in the process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!